$2.$ For each of the following passages, determine whether it advances an argument. If an argument is probably being expressed, restate the argument in standard form. If the intent is probably not to express an argument, explain why not.

a$.$ When Mike, Sharon, Sandy, and Vicky are all away from the Tacoma office, no important decisions get made. Mike is off skiing, Sharon is in Spokane, Vicky is in Olympia, and Sandy is in Seattle. So no decisions will be made today.

$*$b$.$ Our press releases are always crisp and upbeat. Mike is the press officer, and if he has his way, all press releases are crisp and upbeat. Mike always has his way.

c$.$ Shelby and Noreen are wonderful at dealing with irate students and faculty members. Stephanie is very good at managing the chancellor$$s very demanding schedule, and Tina keeps everything moving and cheers everyone up$.$

$*$d$.$ Tom and Ray are our office assistants, and one of them is incompetent and the other one is lazy. So either Tom is incompetent and Ray is lazy, or Tom is lazy and Ray is incompetent.

e$.$ We won$$t be able to repair the deck because to do so we need stainless steel screws. All the screws we have are in the nail and screw cabinet. The first drawer contains only galvanized nails, the second contains only ordinary nails, and the third contains only drywall screws. And the fourth and bottom drawers contain only brass screws.

$*$f$.$ If the budget is to be balanced we will have to raise taxes or cut spending. If we cut spending, then entitlement programs, including Medicare and Social Security, will have to be significantly cut and the Democrats will have a fit. If we raise taxes, Republicans will go ballistic. So if the budget is balanced, either the Democrats will have a fit or the Republicans will go ballistic.

g$.$ The weather is perfect, the view is wonderful, and we$$re on vacation. So why are you unhappy?

$*$h$.$ The new kitchen will be finished on time only if our carpenter works over the weekend. He will work over the weekend only if he doesn$$t go duck hunting, but he will go duck hunting. So the new kitchen will not be finished on time.

i$.$ If Sarah did the wiring, it was done right, and if Marcie did the plumbing, it was done right. As neither the wiring nor the plumbing was done right, Sarah didn$$t do the wiring and Marcie didn$$t do the plumbing.

$*$j$.$ Sarah, John, Rita, and Bob have all worked hard, and one of them will be promoted. Their company is having a cash flow problem and is offering its employees who are over $55$ a $$50,000$ bonus if they retire at the end of this year. Sarah, John, and Bob are all over $55$ and will take early retirement. So Rita will be promoted.

k$.$ Having cancer is a good, for whatever is required by something that is a good is itself a good. Being cured of cancer is a good, and being cured of cancer requires having cancer.